Elevator door system



Aug. 23, 1932. N. o. LINDSTROM ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM Filed July 25. 19272. Slneeos-Shee(l l ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. N. o. I INDSTROM ELEVATORDOOR SYSTEM Filed July 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmf MN MM NNY ATTORNEYPatented Aug. 23, 1932 Y `UNIT STATES NILS O. LINDSTROM, F N'TLEY, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. SEE ELEVA'IOR CM- ATsN'r '."PLNY, INC., ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELEVATOR DOOR SYSTEM l* Application filed July23, 1.927. Serial No. 207,831.

My invention relates to elevator door devices, and particularly toelevator doors in cluding means for the automatic closure thereof, and asafety switch for preventing a operation of the elevator car when thedooris open.

For purposes of safety, it is essentiai that the shaftway and car doorsof elevators, particularly the fully automatic or push button u)elevators, be so protected that 'the doors can be opened only when thecar is stopped at a given'iioor, and so that the elevator car can-V notbe moved from a floor until the doors are A closed. Safety devices ofthis general Vtype l are customary and Fessential parts of all modernelevator systems, and'many elaborate .and complicated systems have beenbuilt in attempts to provide the desired degree'of safe'- ty. All of theprevious systems are, however,

'i f unduly elaborate, complicated, and subject to disablementsuch thattheelevator as a whole becomes inoperative.

My invention provides an extremely simple door control system, adaptedto be used 't3 with elevator systems in general and particularly adaptedfor the fully automatic type of elevator, which system provides thenecessary safety with aminimum number of parts of the greatestsimplicity.l By the de` :"0 vice lof my invention, I am enabled toprovide for the closure of all of the elevator shaftway doors throughthe agency of a single spring or weight, and to operate a singleelectric circuit switch for stopping the elevator motion by locking outthe power connection thereto, from any of anumber of .shaftway doors.Likewise my'device is par'- ticularly adapted to the fully'automaticelevator system in Which power means for actui i ation of the car dooris provided. It provides means whereby the opening of the car door,simultaneously opens the shaftwaydoor at which the car is positioned,but opening it if, only if the elevator is leveled off at'the'floor. Myinvention further provides means for the controlled closure of theelevator shaftway door at a slow speed, to Vprevent injury toapassenger. rhe system of my invention' fur- "M3 ther contains a minimumnumber of ruggedv parts ofthe greatest simplicity and durabili'- Bythe-device of my invention I thus provide an inexpensive, simple,durable, rugged, elevator-door gear adapted to the meeting of all of theneeds of a fully automatic system, as well as the needs ofsimpler'systems.

Other objects and structural. details of my invention will be apparentfrom the follow'- ing description when read Ain connectionwith theaccompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevationpartly in section of an elevator system embodying the device of myinvention; FigpQ is a-'front View, partly 'diagram-k matic, of the sameembodiment;

Fig. 3 is a plan view in partial section of the same embodiment; Fig. 4Lis a front view of the same embodiment showing Ia door in openedposition, r Figs. 5 and Gare side elevations ofi-detail modifications,and

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the applica.

tion of the invention to an elevator of the push button automaticelectrically controlled type.

Referring to the figures, I provide a shaftway l having guides 2 and acar 3. Doorways are provided at the respective Hoor levels of theelevator shaft, closed by doors which may desirably consist of pairs ofsliding doors'l and 5. rIhe elevator car 3 is like-Y wise desirablyvprovided with a suitable door member 6 which may consist of a foldinglattice door structure, or may consist of a. pair of sliding doorssimilar vin general pattern to the shaftway doors. A door opening andclosing device may beprovided in connection with the car door, accordingto the system .disclosed inthe copending application Serial No. 138,453,led in the name of Carl F. E. Olofson and myself, assigned to the A. B.See Elevator Company.

The shaftway doors 4; and 5 are desirably v the purpose of controllingtheir movements.

This lever mechanism may desirably consist of a first lever 7 pivoted bya-pivot mempropriate `Hoor. the motor 34 is energized by appropriate ber8 to the shaftway wall. A second lever 9 is desirably pivote-d at 11 tothe end of the lever 7, and at 12 to the movable door. The lever 9 hasan extension 14, in the form of a bell crank lever, upon which maydesirably be mounted a roller 15. The lever 7 may desirably have a taillever member 16 and a counterweight 17. A te-nsion device such as avertical rod, or ribbon member 18 is desirably provided extending thelength of the shaftway. The tension or ribbon member 18 is desirablysupported by a spring 19, of medium strength, which may be described asa 10 lb. spring. At the bottom of the ribbon member 18 is positioned adash pot member 21 consisting'of a cylinder 22, piston 23, and controlvalve 24. The ribbon member 18 is attached to the piston 23, and aspring 25 is provided for producing a downward movement of the piston 23and attached ribbon member 18. The spring 25 is desirably considerablystronger than the spring 19` and may be described as a 30 lb. spring.Along the length of the ribbon 18, at appropriate points in each floorlevel, are attached a plurality of collar members 26. The collar membersmay be adjustably fastened by screws 27 as indicated, or they may befastened permanently in place by pins or rivets. Cooperating with theattached collars 26 are movable collars 28, surrounding the ribbonmember 18, and 'positionedjust below the liXed collars 26. Between thecollars 28 and the door-lever tail-member 16 are attached connectormembers 29 which may take the form of tension devices such as lengths ofchain or` may take the lform of rsuitable bar members. VAt a convenientpoint along the length of the ribbon A18, which may desirably be nearthe upper end, is positioned a safety switch member 31, adapted to beopened by an upwardmovement of the ribbon member 18.

n The car door, which may be constructed ac cording to the `disclosurein the previously mentioned copending application, desirably has a doorguide member 32. A slide member 33 cooperating with the guide 32 isdesirably attached to the leading edge of the car door 6. A motor 34 andchain 35 according to the disclosure of the previously mentionedapplication, are likewise also desirably provided for the automaticactuation of the gate 6. Upon the slide member 33 is positioned acarrier plate 36, adapted to engage with the roller 15 upon the end ofthe bell crank 14'for opening the doors 4.

For the operation of my device, the elevator system may, if desired, bemade fully automatic as indicated in Fig. 7, so that upon the pushing ofany floor button 40 by a passengerl the elevator mechanism is broughtinto operation, and the ca-r carried to the ap- Upon stopping at theiioor,

means to open the doors. The movement of the chain by the motor 34carries the slide 33 and the plate 36 in an appropriate direction toopen the car door, in the instance shown, ltoward the right. The plate36 cooperates with the roller 15, and through the agency of the bellcrank lever 14 moves the bar 9 downward, and with it the bar 7, therebyfreeing the toggle joint at the pivot 11 and permitting the door portion4 to open. Simultaneously the tail lever member 16 is carried upward bythe movement of the lever 17 and carries with it the chain member 29 andthe collar 28. This upward movement lifts the ribbon against thepressure of the spring 25 and the portion of the ribbon above the collar28 is lifted by the spring 19, to open the contact 31, thereby lockingout the starting contactor'on the motor panel board. A4 single door maybe opened at a time, and the ribbon -18 lifted without disturbance ofthe corresponding members at the other doors because of the freemovement possible between the collars 28 and the ribbon which form arelease mechanism. The members 26 at the closed doors are simply liftedaway from the corresponding collars 28, and the door levers are held inclosed position by the counterweights 17. f

By this means the car door and an appropriate shaftway door are openedfor the access of'pa'ssengers. The position taken by the levers when'thedoor is fully opened is shown in further detail in Fig. 4 where theplate 36 is shown'pulled tothe right, the levers 7 and 9 are shownfolded downward behind a portion of the door, and the ribbon 18, and thecollars26 and 28 are shown lifted to the full upward position for theopening of the contactor 31.

The passengers may then enter the car and press the car button toindicate the iioor to which they desire to go. Pressure of the carbutton energizes the motor 34 in the reverse direction and moves thedoor 6 to the closed position. The movement of the door. and with it theslide 33, carries the plate 36 away from the roller 15. This removes thepressure upon the bell crank lever 14- and frees door 4. The downwardpressure of the 25 upon the ribbon 8 is then effective through thecollar 26. the collar 28. the chain 29 the lever tail 16 to swingV the.levers 7 and 9 into the position shown in Fig. 2, for the closure ofthe shaftway door. As the door 4- closes, the ribbon 18 moves downwardlyuntil, when the door 4 is substantially closed, a circuit is closed bythe device 31 to energize the main elevator motor and the associatedwinding gear. 'The elevator gear then moves the car to the desiredfloor, and stops, whereupon the motor 34 is energized in the directionfirst described, and pulls the chain 35 to open the car door 6, and theapstructive matter.

propriate shaftway door 4 as previously described, for the egress 'ofthe passengers.

All of the elevator doors are thus controlled by a single spring closingmember, and the opening of any door stops the movement of the elevatorthrough the opening of a single circuit device. This construction isparticularly advantageous, because of the fact that it reduces themaintenance required upon electrical safety devices, a single one onlybeing required as ldistinguished from onefor each shaftway door of theprior art. The construction is further highly advantageous because ofthefact that all the doors are closed by the same moderately powerfulspring. This construction makes it impossible for a passenger to becaught in the doorway and injured by unduly high-tension upon the doorclosing device. Likewise the doors are closed slowly because ofthepresence of the dash pot 21. The fact that a single dashl pot onlyisv used for all ofthe doors is advantageous, since it reduces the cost.Also the dash pot is vlocated in an advantageous place, being at thebottom of the shaftway, conveniently available for inspection andmaintenance, and in a position where there is ample room for a dash potof adequate size. The dash pot thus is desirably constructed in a ratherlarve size, with relatively large fluid passages. This ccnstructionprevents the fouling of thepassages and faulty operation of the'dash potthrough the presence of dirt or other obl have described the operationof my' invention as applied to a fully automatic elevator system. It is,however, equally well adapted to a manual elevator operating system ofthe usual type. in such an embodiment, the car may be operated by acontrol lever under the hand of an operator, who also opens and closesthe elevator gates. Tn my construction, the opening of the car gate bythe operator simultaneously opens the shaftway gate, without thenecessityV for a separate operation. Likewise the shaftvvay gate closesslowly, easily, and automatically upon the closure of the car gate bythe operator. Such a system likewise has advantages in speed ofoperation, and safety and certainty of handling.

Tt is, of course, desirable that appropriate Circuit switches beprovided in connection with the car gate as well Vas with the shaftwaygates. Such safety devices may, however, take the form shown in mycopending application, and need not be here described.

The bell crank lever 14 may, as previously suggested, be made as anintegral part with the lever 9. Such construction is however notentirely desirable, because of the fact Jthat it results in a smalleramount of movement of the door 4 than of the door 6. The

' bell crank lever 14 is desirably made separate from the leverportion.9, pivoted upon the same pivot 12, and adapted to cooperate withthe lever 9 by means of a stop 40, so that the pressure of the plate 36upon the roller 15, moves the lever 14,k and with it the lever 9downward, enough to break the toggle joint lock between the levers 7 and9. A stop 41 is desirably provided attached to the door 4 andcooperating withthe bell crank lever. 14 to limit its motion so thatenough 'movement of the lever 14 is allowed to break the toggle lock,andno more. Such construction permits the application of pressure from ltheplate 36, throughthe roller 15, lever 14 andthe stop described, to carrythe door -4 towards the open position, the levers 9 kand 7 movingtogether in an appropriate manner. This construction is shown in Fig. 4.

The construction disclosed utilizes a relatively light spring at theupper end of the ribbon 8, and a heavier spring 25 at the lower end ofthe ribbon. rThe spring 25 may be replaced by a counterweight if,desired, as for y example by increasing the weight of the piston 23 andeliminating the spring 25 although the speed of operation when soconstructed is not as great. Likewise the spring 19 vrmay be replacedby` a lever 42 and counterweight 48, as shown in Fig. 5.' o

The safety switch, or, lockout switch 31, is desirably positionednearthe top of the ribbon 18, since when so positioned it will y function tostop the lelevator in the event that the ribbon 18 should break.Breakage of the ribbon releases theV spring 19 and lpermits it to liftthe contact members 31. This operation can fail only in the event thatthe ribbon breaks between the switch 31 and the spring 19, which isextremely unlikely. However' to avoid any such possibility, the switch31 may be mounted directly above the'spring 19 as in Fig. 6, therebyreducing the possibility of failure to a vanishingly small value.V

' A detailed Wiring diagram of the electrical circuits is shown inFigure 7 which for the sake` of simplicity and clearness, showsv anautomatic -elevator system involving only two floors or landings andomits the electrical control within the car, the hoisting motor and itsconnections from reversing switches, and various other circuits wellknown and in common use. y

Tn the wiring diagram, the source of current is the main line wires 44and 45. There is a push button for each floor landing 46 and 46. Sincethere are only two floors, each push button will cause the elevator tomove in only one direction. In case the system includes mor-e than twolandings, a floor selecting device (not shown, but well known) will beconnected to the various push buttons inorder to enable each push buttonto bring the Ielevator car to its landing no-fmatter where it may bepositioned inthe shaft; that is, the

"asl

-floor landings.

car will sometimes be moved upward and sometimes downward by a singlepush button in order to bring it to the floor cont-rolled by such pushbutton as when the push button is on a floor intermediate'the top andbottom In any case, the elevator gate will be automatically brought to aclosed position by closing the push button circuit before the hoistingmotor is operated, and when the elevator reaches the desired licorlanding, the elevator gate, and the shaftway door will be automaticallyopened as will now be described.

There is a relay associated with each push button, its energizing coilbeing in a circuit closed thereby. As shown, the relay 47 associatedwith the push button 46 will upon movement of the push button 46 beenergized by a circuit as Jfollows: from line wire 44 through wires 48,49, 50, relay coil 47, wire 51, relay arm 52, contact 5.3, wire 54, pushbutton 46, wires 55 and 56, cont-act 57, arm 58, and wires 59 and 60 toline wire 45. The relay 47 vis thereby energized andthe conducting arms61 and 62 thrown to the left whereby the circuit through Athe pushbutton 46 is opened at 53 and a circuit closed as-ollows: from line wire44, to arm 52 as before, thence through arms 61, 62, and 63, wire 64,resistance 65, wires 66, 67 and 68, relay coil 69, wire 70, relay arm71, contact 72, wire 73 to line wire 45. K

` The energizing of relay coil 69 causes the conducting arms 74 and 75to be thrown to the left, separating arm 58 from contact 57 and therebymaking it impossible to close a circuit through either of the pushbuttons 46 or 46. Furthermore, the contacting of arm 75 with arm'76causes the closing of a circuit'from wire 68 through wire 77, relay coil78, wire 79, contact 80, arm 81, wires 82, 83 and 84, arms 76, 75, 74,and 58 and wires 59 and 60 to line .wire 45. y 'i The energizing ofrelay coil causes the conducting arms 85 and 86 to bethrown to the leftand a circuit to be closed as follows:

from line wire 44 through wires 48-and 87,4

contactA 88, arm 89 of reversing switch R, series field windings 90 ofgate motor 34, lead 91, motor armature and lead 92, part of the currentbeing shunted through resistance 93, thence through resistance 94, arm95, Contact 96, wire 97, arms 98, 86, 85 and 99, wire 100,-

Figure 4, toward the lett until the contact bar 108 of the elevator gateswitch 21 is kshifted from the upper contacts 109 to the lower contacts110. The gate switch is such that when the gate reachesthe open positionthe contact bar 108 is moved to close the circuit between upper contacts109, and when the gate reaches The connections between the contacts 110will establish a circuit as follows: from line wire '44, through wires48, 49 and 50, relay coil 47, wire'51, arms 52, 61, 62, and 63, wire64up limit switch 111, wire 112, contact 113 of down reversing switch R,resistance 114, wires and 116, relay coil 117, wire 118, contact bar 108of the elevator gate switch 21, wires 8.3 and 84, arms 76, 75, 74 and58, and wires 59 and 60 to line wire 45. The effect of the energizing ofthe relay coil 117 is to throw the arms 119 and 121 to the left thuscausing the openingfof the gate motor circuit at 101 and 105 andstopping the gate motor. The arm 120 is also thrown to the left, therebyseparating 80 and 81, deenergizing relay 78 and opening the gate motorcircuit at 85 and 86. Furthermore, a circuit is completed from line wire44 through wire 122, relay coil 123- of gate motor reversing switch R,wire 124, switch 21, wires 83 and 84, arms 76, 75, 74 and 58, and wires59 and 60- to line wire 45. Thel elect of energizing c oil 123 vis toactuate the reversing switch R to change the connections to the armatureof the gate motor'34 to reverse the direction of rotation of theelevator gate motor 34 when f' it is again energized.

The arm by contacting with the arm 81 closes a circuit as follows: fromline wire 44 to contact 113 of down reversing switch R as before, thencethrough'wire 125, coil 126 of up reversing switch R, wire 127, coil 128ot potential or circuit breaking switch, wire' 129, locking out switch31, wire 130, arms 120 and81, wires 82, 83 and 84, arms 76, 75, 74 and58, and wires 59 and 60 to line wire 45. rlhe effect of the closing ofsuch circuit is the closing by the reversing switch R of the hoistingmotor circuit (not shown) thereby causing the motor to raise theelevator from its lower toits upper position level with the landing uponwhich push button 46 is situated. As it reaches that landing, it causesby well known means, the opening of the up limit switch 111 and therebyopens the hoisting motor circuit and stops the elevator car.; it alsocauses the deenergizing oi the relay coil 117. y

The deenergizing of' the coil 117 permits arms 119 and 120 to bereturned to their original position, thereby establishing a circuit torelay coil 78 and to the elevator'gate motor 34. Since the relay' coilof the reversing switch R of the elevator gate motor 34 is energized ashereinbeitore described, the elevator gate motor will operate-totraverse the gatev from the closed to the open position, the shaftwaydoor being simultaneously opened as hereinbefore described. Theopeningot the elevator gate will cause contact bar 108 to close the gapbetween contacts 109 and'open the circ-uit between contacts 110.

The opening of the circuit between contacts 110 will deenergi'ze therelay coil 123.

The connection between the contacts 109 will cause a circuit to beclosed as ollows: from line wire 44, through wire 131, contact bar 108,wire 132, relay coil 133, wire 84, arms 76, 75, 74 and 58, and wires 59and 60 to line wire 45. The energizing ot coil causes the arm 71 to bethrown to the right, thereby deenergizing coils 69, 47 and 1.33 andrestoringv the various parts to their original positions.

The circuits controlled by push button 46' are similar in all respectsto those described in connection with push button 46 and the operationis the same except that the reversing switch R will so connect thehoisting motor as to cause the elevator car to descend until it reachesthe landingnpon which push button 46 is located, at which time theelevator car causes the opening of the down limit switch 134 andenergizes the various relays as before.

By the device of my invention I am thus enabled to provide a highlysatisfactory elevator door control system, having much fewer, andsimpler, and more rugged parts than the devices of the prior art. Thedoor control device of my invent-ion is likewise highly suitable forautomatic operation, and when so operated provides the utmostconvenience and safety. The device also is eX- tremely simple and easyof maintenance.

lVhile I have shown but a single embodiment ot my invention in thefigures, and have described but two embodiments, it is capable ofembodiment in still other forms without departure from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beimposed upon the scope of the claims describing my invention as arerequired by the prior art.

I claim as my invent-ion:

1. In an elevator system, a shaftway having a plurality of doors openingthereto and sliding door members cooperating therewith, means comprisingsets of toggle levers :tor controlling the movements of said doors, oneof said levers of said sets having a bell crank lever portion adapted tocooperate with an opening means, and another of said levers having acounterweight and tail member, and a common tension member cooperatingwith the tails ot said levers, and means comprising a controlled springvfor applying force for the closure ot said doors. y

2. In an elevator system, an automatic operating means comprising-'apush button electrical control system having means for the automaticcontrol ot the movements of saidelevator, and automatic means tortheopening and closing of said car door, said means being adapted to open ashalitwaydoor siimiltaneously, and means other than said car door commonto all ot said shaftway doors for the controlledV closure thereof uponactuation otsaid automatic members, and means associated with saidvclosure means for locking out the car power-connection when a shattwaydoor is opened. V

3. In an elevator system, a shaftway having openings thereto atdifferent floor landings, doors tor the shaftway openings, an elevatorcar in the shaftway, means formoving the elevator car, a gate on theelevator car, gate operating means for moving the gatein one directionto open rthe gate and in the opposite direction to close the gate, meanson the gate for engaging the shattway doors to open the doors with thegate, and additional means common to all of the shaftway doors forcontrolling the closure thereof.

4. In an elevator system, a shattway having openings thereto atdifferent floor landings, doors for the shattway openings, an

elevator car in the shaftway, means for movmg the elevator car, a gateon the elevator car, gate-operating means for moving the gate in onedirection to open the gate andV in ythe opposite direction to close thegate,

means on the gate for engaging the shaftway doors to open the doors withthe gate, additional meansA common to all of the shaiitway doors forcontrolling the closure thereof, and

means for locking out the elevator ear operating means when a shaftwaydoor is open.

5. In an elevator system, a shattway having a plurality of openingsthereto, an elevator car in the shattway, means for moving the elevatorcar, sliding doors for the shaftway openings, means comprising sets oftoggle levers for each ot the doors for con-V trolling the movements otthe doors, one ot the levers of said `sets having a bell crank leverportion adapted to cooperate with an opening means, and another of saidlevers having a counter weight and tail member,y a common member undertension cooperating with the tails ot said levers, means comprising acontrolled spring for applying a torce for the closure of said doors,and means cooperating with the common member under tension for lockingout the elevator car moving means when a shattway door is open.

6. In an elevator system, a shaftway having a plurality of openingsthereto, an elevator car in the shaftway, means for moving the elevatorcar, sliding doors for the shaftway openings, means comprising sets oftoggle aiY i" and another of said levers having a counterweight and tailmember, a common member under tension cooperating with the tails ot'said levers, means comprising a controlled spring for applying a forceto the common "E," member under tension for the closure of said doors,and means cooperating with the common member under tension for lockingout the elevator car moving means when the common member is not undertension.

v 7 In an elevator system, a shaftway having a plurality of openingsthereto, an elevator car in the shaftvvay, means for moving the elevatorcar, sliding doors for the shaftway openings, means comprising sets oftoggle levers for each of the doors for controlling the movements of thedoors, one of the levers of said sets having a bell crank lever portionadapted to cooperate With an opening means, and another of said levershaving 2-51 a counterweight and tail member, a common member undertension cooperating With the tails of said levers, means comprising acontrolled spring for applying a force to the common member undertension for the closure of said doors, and means cooperating with thecommon member under tension for locking out the elevator car movingmeans Whenv a shaftway door is open and When the common member is notunder tension.

8. In an elevator system, a shaftway having a plurality of openingsthereto, an elevator car in the shaftway, means for moving the elevatorcar, a gate on the elevator car, sliding doors for the shaftwayopenings, a set of toggle levers for each of the shaft- Way doors forcontrolling the movement of the door and locking the doors in the closedposition, one of the levers on the sets having a bell crank leverportion, means on the elevator car gate adapted to cooperate With thebell crank lever to break the toggle lock and move the bell crank leverto open the door in accordance With the movement of the car gate, andmeans common to all the shatWay doors for controlling the closurethereof.

9. In an elevator system, a shaftvvay having a plurality of openingsthereto, an elevator car in the shaftway, means for moving the elevatorcar, a gate on the elevator car,

isliding doors for the shaftWay openings, a

set of toggle levers for each of the shaftvvay doors for controlling themovement of the doors and locking the doors in the closed position, oneof the levers on the sets having -a bell crank lever portion, means onthe elevator car gate adapted to cooperate With the bell crank lever tobreak the toggle lock and move the bell crank lever to open the door inaccordance with the movement of the car 65 gate, another of said levershaving a counterweight and tail'membe'r, acommon member under tensionVcooperating With the tails of said levers, means comprising a controlledspring for applying a Jforce for the closurev lll)

